Netanyahu, Hagel discuss Iran nuclear program in Jerusalem
(JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel discussed the Iranian nuclear program in public comments on Friday in Jerusalem.
“I wasn’t surprised and I’m sure you weren’t surprised by the recent U.N. report on Iran’s ongoing efforts to deceive the international community, to continue to develop ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) and to continue to violate its commitments of Security Council stipulations on forbidding it to develop certain parts of its nuclear program,” Netanyahu said.
“I think that requires a very clear and firm policy on the part of the world powers,” said the prime minister. He added that in the ongoing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, “one thing must guide the international community: we must not let the ayatollahs win.”
Hagel said, “I want to assure you, the people of Israel, of the United States’ continued commitment to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. America will do what we must to live up to that commitment.”
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Hezbollah forced to cut budget over Iran aid shortage, faces new U.S. sanctions
(JNS.org) A source close to the central command of Hezbollah said the terror group is feeling the effects of Iran’s tough economic situation and will be forced to slash its budget.
According to the source, Iran is feeling the strain of international sanctions related to its nuclear program as well as expenses related to the Syrian civil war, and as a result has cut its aid to Hezbollah, Lebanon’s The Daily Star reported.
Additionally, Hezbollah is feeling the effects of growing international scrutiny of its terror finance network, especially from the U.S. and European countries.
A new bipartisan U.S. Senate bill, called the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2014, targets Hezbollah’s financing by going after financial institutions that help Hezbollah. This bill is similar to one introduced to the House of Representatives last month, which currently has 104 cosponsors.
“This important bipartisan legislation is critical to disrupting Hezbollah’s global networks and limiting its ability to finance terror attacks, spread its extremist message, and recruit new members,” Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in a statement.
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Pakistani Christians urge their government to let them visit Israel
(JNS.org) Pro-Israel Pakistani Christians held a demonstration in Karachi to call on their government to recognize Israel.
A group calling itself the God’s Peoples Fellowship of Pakistan (GPFP) protested outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, which marked the May 14 anniversary of Israel’s founding. The protesters called on the Pakistani government to establish diplomatic relations with Israel so that they can make a pilgrimage to the Jewish state.
“Jerusalem is a place where Jesus Christ was born and died. Visiting there for pilgrimage is our religious right,” Pastor Akram John told Pakistan Today.
Separately, the GPFP also issued a formal declaration to the Pakistani government calling on it to recognize Israel. In 2003, President Pervez Musharaf stated that Pakistan should at least discuss the “Israel issue” with an open mind.
“We are making the demand yet again in view of the larger religious interests of the 10 million Christian people and the teachings of the Bible to enable them to visit the ‘holy land’ of Israel on the Pakistani passport,” GPFP General-Secretary Ashraf P. Butt said.
Butt added that Israel “was a ground reality and a democratic country and it had been recognized by most of the countries.”
Comprising only a small percentage of the country’s population, Christians in Pakistan are routinely attacked by Islamic extremists. A recent report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said that Pakistan “represents the worst situation in the world for religious freedom.”
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Pope Francis’s Jewish friend set to join him on Israel trip
(JNS.org) Pope Francis will be joined on his upcoming trip to Israel by his close friend, Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka, as well as Argentinian Muslim leader Omar Abboud, the Vatican said.
The inclusion of the Jewish and Muslim leaders marks the first time leaders of other faiths will be included on an official papal delegation. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis hopes to show the “normality” of having friends of other faiths, The Associated Press reported.
Skorka, whose friendship with Francis dates back to their days as the leaders of their respective communities in Argentina, last September spent several days in the Vatican together with the pope over the Sukkot holiday. The two have also authored a book together called On Heaven and Earth, which discusses Jewish and Catholic issues.
Meanwhile, the Vatican also said Pope Francis will shun the use of bulletproof vehicles known as the “Pope mobile” during his trip, and will instead use a normal car in order to be closer to the people.
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